Amusement device



Jan. 28, 1964 o. R. WHITSON 3,119,612

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed June 1, 1960 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,119,612 AMUSEMENT DEVICE ()rvts R. Whitson, 654 W. Ave. K, P.(). Box 516, Calimesa, Calif. Filed June 1, 1960, Ser. No. 33,177 1 Claim. (El. 272-33) This invention relates to an amusement device.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which can be used indoors or outdoors by one or more children and wherein the device includes a stationary frame, and a vertical body member which can be caused to move by action of the childrens bodies.

Another object of the invention is to provide an amusement device which is safe to use and which includes a locking device for maintaining the rotary body member stationary while the children are entering or leaving the main body member of the amusement device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an amusement device which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the amusement device of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken through the body member of the amusement device.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken at right angles to the View ihown in FIGURE 2 and taken on the line 3-3 of FIG- FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the locking device.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the locking device taken at right angles through the view shown in FIGURE 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the amusement device of the present invention comprises a stationary frame which includes a horizontally disposed base 11, and extending upwardly from the base 11 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith are spaced parallel opposed standards 12 which support a horizontally disposed stationary shaft or axle 13.

The numeral 14 indicates a tubular bearing which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 13, FIGURE 2, and there is further provided a pair of spaced parallel side rails 15 and 16 which are secured as for example by welding to the ends of the bearing 14. A plurality of spaced parallel bars or rungs 17 extend between the side rails 15 and 16 and are secured thereto in any suitable manner.

The numeral 18 indicates a rotary body member which includes a circular rim or wall 19 and there is further provided a pair of opposed spaced parallel arcuate side walls 20. The main side portions of the member 18 are open as indicated by the numeral 21 so that when the member 18 is stationary, the children can readily enter or leave the member 18 through the open spaces 21.

Stop collars 22 are mounted on the shaft 13 for preventing or limiting shifting movement of the parts longitudinally on the shaft 13, FIGURE 2.

There is further provided a locking device 23 which is adapted to be selectively actuated in order to maintain the member 18 stationary, as for example when the children are entering or leaving the member 18. This locking device 23 is shown to comprise a band or collar 24 which is secured as by welding to the side rail 16, and the band 24 is provided with an opening 25 for selectively registering with an opening or aperture 26 in the shaft 13. The numeral 27 indicates a guide member or sleeve which is secured as by welding to the side rail 16, and a locking pin 28 is slidably arranged in the sleeve 27. The locking pin 28 includes an outer transverse portion 29 which is adapted to engage a stop pin 30 to limit outward movement of the locking member 28, and the inner end of the pin 28 is adapted to selectively move through the opening 25 and into engagement with the opening 26 when the member 18 is to remain stationary or locked in the position of FIGURE 3. When the children are entering or leaving the member 18, the member 18 is in the position shown in FIGURE 3. After the children have entered or left the device, the locking pin 28 can be permitted to move out of the opening 26 so that the member 18 is free to rotate about an axis extending through the shaft 13.

There is further provided in the rotary member 18 a pair of spaced apart seats 31 for supporting the children thereon, and safety chains 32 are provided for helping to retain or maintain the children in their proper position.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an amusement device which is especially suitable for use by children either indoors or outdoors and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that the member 18 is adapted to support one or more children on the seats 31 and the chains 32 can be fastened to act as safety devices to help hold the children onthe seats. The open spaces 21 permit the children to readily enter or leave the device, and when the children are entering or leaving the device the locking mechanism 23 is actuated so as to prevent the action and the rotation of the member 18. This locking mechanism 23 includes the pin 28 which, with the parts in the position of FIGURES 3, 4, and 5 can be shifted inwardly manually so that the inner end of the pin 28 will extend through the opening 25 of the band 24 and into engagement with the opening 26 in the shaft 13 and this will serve to prevent movement or rotation of the member 18 since the band 24 is secured to the rail 16, and since the rail 16 is secured or formed integral with the member 18. After the children are seated in the member 18, the pin 28 can be released and the member 30 will serve to limit outward movement of the pin 28, and with the member 28 released, it will be seen that the inner end of the member 28 will be out of engagement with the opening 26 of the shaft 13.

The children sit on the seats 31 and grip the bars or rungs 17 and by moving their bodies the member 18 can be rocked back and forth, and the frame 10 is constructed so that it includes the wide base portions 11 which is arranged and constructed so that the device will not accidentally tip over. The bearing 14 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 13, and the bearing 14 is secured as by welding to the side rails 15 and 16, the side rails 15 and 16 being secured as by welding to the side walls 20 and outer wall member 19 of the body member 18.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The side walls 20 have a partial moon shape so as to help hold the childrens feet and legs in, and also provide sides on the seats. The parts can be made of any suitable material such as metal fiber glass, plastic, wood or the like or combinations of these materials.

A locking device 23 serves to hold the drum or member 18 from rotating when the children are entering or leaving, and the pin 28 slides vertically in the sleeve 27 so as to engage the opening 26 in the shaft 13 to lock the member 18 in a position of FIGURE 3 when the children are entering or leaving the toy or amusement device. The band 24 and locks revolve with the side rails 16 so that the opening 26 is never exposed. Thus, the band 24 is welded to the side rails 16 of the ladder, and as it revolves the band 24 covers the hole 26 in the shaft 13 so as to prevent a child from putting his or her finger in the hole 26 and having the pin come around and shear it off.

The toy can be used in different locations, as for example in playgrounds or else it can be used indoors and the toy or amusement device includes the drum or cylindrical shaped body member 18 which may be made in different sizes to accommodate children of different ages, and two seats 31 may be attached inside of the member 18. The member 18 is affixed to the side rails 15 and 16 which in turn are secured to the bearing 14, and the ends of the shaft 13 extend out past the sides of the member 18 as for example as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The locking device 23 serves to hold the toy and prevent the toy from revolving while the children enter and exit and each seat is provided with a safety belt or chain 32 which secures the child in the seat.

In operation, one child holds the safety lock pin 28 up which locks the member 18 so that it will not revolve, and as the child holds it, he or she gets in the member 18 and continues to hold it until the other child is in. He then lets go of the pin 28. When both children are in the member 18, the member will be approximately balanced and the safety belts 32 are secured around the childrens waist and the children hold onto the rungs 17 and by both children rocking their bodies at the same time in the same direction, the member 18 begins to pivot and rotate on the shaft 13. With a little practice the children are still able to rotate all the way around the shaft 13 and can continue as long as they like, and for example, the member 18 may be rotated approximately 50 times per minute.

Some weight differential in the children using the toy may not be detrimental since the children will soon learn to sit forward or backward and create a balance.

Furthermore, one child only can use the toy by positioning a sand bag in the opposite seat equal to his or her weight. The toy is safe since the children are held in by the safety belt or chain and even if they are not secured by the belt or chain they can not fall out as they are surrounded by the body member 18. Furthermore, unlike many other playground type toys the present invention does not take up much space and does not have much movement so that it can be used in a garage, basement, playroom or the like as for example, when the weather is bad.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

\Vhat is claimed is:

In an amusement device, a stationary frame including a horizontally disposed generally rectangular base, spaced parallel vertically disposed opposed standards extending upwardly from intermediate portions of said base, a horizontally disposed shaft supported by said standards; a tubular bearing rotatably mounted on said shaft, a pair of spaced parallel rails secured to said bearing, a plurality of spaced parallel bars extending between said rails and secured thereto, a rotary body member affixed to said rails and said body member including a circular wall member, said body member further including spaced parallel arcuate side walls, spaced apart seats mounted in said body member, safety chains contiguous to said seats; a locking device for selectively preventing rotation of said body member, said locking device comprising a band aifixed to one of said rails and said band having an opening therein, there being an opening in said shaft for at times registering with the opening in said band, a sleeve afiixed to the adjacent rail, an L-shaped locking pin having a portion slidably mounted in said sleeve, and the inner end of said pin being mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the opening in the shaft, and a stop member for limiting outward movement of the locking pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 741,964 Harlan Oct. 20, 1903 1,660,139 Shellabarger Feb. 21, 1928 1,683,237 Brown Sept. 4, 1928 2,689,126 Eyerly Sept. 14, 1954 2,723,120 Hackleman Nov. 8, 1955 

